Iron County register., 1887-01-27
Is It Political Suicide?

The most superficial student OF our
political life must be aware by this time
of the intense bitterness and resent
ment against Henry George which his
article upon the MeGlyn case has
aroused among Roman Catholics,
whether they be good, bad or inditfer-
ent churchmen. II is felt beyond dis
pute that in q large measure Georges
letter indicates selfishness. He has not
hesitated, in order to attain his ends,
to drag down, or attempt to drag down,
one of the foremost priests of the Ro-
man Catholic Church in this country,
and man whose honesty Of purpose
and devotion to the interest of the poor
have never been questioned. Wheth-
er DR.. McGlyn is allowed to return to
his priestly office or not, the fact res
mains that George will be held to have
made an attempt to sacrifice him TO his
own ambition, and the utter useless
ness of the sacrifice, so far as George is
concerned, will not lessen the gravity
of the ofense.
The Roman Catholic regards his
priest as a man apart; his sacerdotal
character is emphasized, and from time
immemorial the Roman Church has
done its utmost to keep the priest from
throwing the power OF his office into
everyday controversy. Any Catholic
layman could have spoken for George
upon the stump, could have gone
around with him upon his political
Journeys, and could have gone from
poll to poll with him upon Election
day, as did DIR. McGlynn, and the Ro.
man Catholic Church would have
nothing to say. But the moment q
ic folf no 10 r,
tempting to bolster up one party with
the dignity of office he derives as 9
priest; he speaks to some extent for the
church which he represents. The Ro-
man Catholic Church contends that il
is impossible to divest the priest of his
sacerdotal character, and that his ev.
cry act is felt to be that of a represent
ative of the church, aud not simply
that of an individual.
DIR. McGlynn was fascinated with the
plausibility and enthusiasm of Henry
George. AS priest having to do with
thousands Of poor people he knew per.
fectly well that there was suffering and
apparent injustice all around us. That
something ought to be done was a
self-evident proposition, and when
Henry George came forward with his
propositions for an experiment upon d
grand scale, the enthusiastic priest al.
lowed his heart to get the better of his
head.
There is a marked unanimity in the
belief that George has committed polt,
ical suicide in the very first number Of
his newspaper. The Roman Catholic
is not apt to talk much about his relig.
ious belief; he is silent, when, in like
circumstances, the socialist rails by tie
hour upon the iniguity of ecclesiastic-
ism of every description. But when
the line is sharply drawn between his
church and the enemies Of the church,
there is no doubt as TO the side upon
which he will he found. Georges best
policy was in not drawing this line at
all, but in allowing Roman Catholics
to remain in doubt as to the position OF
the church with regard to his move
ment. To-day the Roman Catholic
Who follows George joins forces with
an avowed and outspnken enemy of his
church. It would be raider interesting
to know what proportion Of the 10000
voters who signed the paper request
ing George to enter the race for Mayor
belong to the Roman Catholic Church.
Probably twu-thirGs would be an un-
|derestima.e, aud if this is so. Mr..
George would have a hard time of 1t in
getting up another list of the kind.
1t is alleged in explanation OF this
apparently suicidal step by which
George has not only lost the friendship
land support Of tue many thousands